Vaccinium hybrid plant named &#39;Ridley 3402&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Vaccinium  hybrid plant named ‘Ridley 3402’, characterized by its combination of upright to semi-upright plant growth habit and strong plant growth vigor, evergreen foliage, early to mid-season flowering and fruiting, medium fruit size, moderately firm fruit with a dry picking scar suited to handling, attractive dark blue fruit color and small picking scar.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES

Vaccinium hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Ridley 3402’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Vaccinium hybrid (Southern Highbush Blueberry), which has been given the variety denomination of ‘Ridley 3402’. Its market class is that of a fruiting plant. ‘Ridley 3402’ is intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

The new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a breeding programme of Vaccinium at Lindendale, NSW, Australia in 2007 from the controlled pollination of seed parent ‘S03-40-02’ (unpatented) with pollen parent ‘503-09-01A’ (unpatented). The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within a population of 100 resulting Vaccinium hybrid plants from this controlled pollination in 2009 in a commercial field plantation environment at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia. Selection criteria were a combination of strong plant growth vigor, low chilling requirement, early to medium time of flowering, upright to semi-upright plant growth habit, firm fruit suited to handling, desirable tasting berries and small picking scar. The selection was subsequently evaluated for a number of years at the commercial farms at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since 2009 at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been primarily compared to the variety ‘Ridley 0501’ (unpatented). In Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia the plant growth vigor of ‘Ridley 3402’ is classified as strong whereas the plant growth vigor of ‘Ridley 0501’ is medium. The berry shape in longitudinal section of ‘Ridley 3402’ is oblate whereas berry shape in longitudinal section of ‘Ridley 0501’ is round. . The berry diameter of calyx basin of ‘Ridley 3402’ is medium whereas ‘Ridley 0501’ is large. The time of beginning of flowering of ‘Ridley 3402’ is classified as ‘early’ whereas the time of beginning of flowering of time of ‘Ridley 0501’ is classified as ‘very early’. The intensity of bloom of the berry skin of ‘Ridley 3402’ is strong whereas ‘Ridley 0501’ is medium. The berry firmness of ‘Ridley 3402’ is medium whereas ‘Ridley 0501’ is medium to firm. The berry sweetness of ‘Ridley 3402’ is ‘medium to high’ whereas ‘Ridley 0501’ is low to medium. This combination of vegetative and fruiting attributes results in ‘Ridley 3402’ being a desirable and distinctive variety for commercial production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Selection criteria was a combination of strong plant growth vigor, low chilling requirement, early to medium time of flowering, upright to semi-upright plant growth habit, firm fruit suited to handling, desirable tasting berries and small picking scar

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Ridley 3402’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid plant:

-   1. strong plant growth vigor -   2. upright to semi-upright plant growth habit -   3. early to medium timing of beginning of flowering -   4. early to medium timing of fruit ripening -   5. dark blue berry color -   6. picking scar is dry     Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the seed parent     ‘S03-40-02’ primarily in strong plant growth vigor, strong berry     skin bloom intensity and medium berry diameter whereas the seed     parent has medium plant growth vigor, very strong berry skin bloom     intensity and large berry diameter. Plants of the new cultivar     differ from plants of the pollen parent ‘S03-09-01A’ primarily in     strong plant growth vigor and an upright to semi-upright plant     growth habit whereas the pollen parent has medium plant growth vigor     and a semi-upright plant growth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Ridley 3402’.

FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘Ridley 3402’ in a commercial field planting.

FIG. 2 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ leaf, flower and berry detail.

FIG. 3 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ leaf detail.

FIG. 4 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ flowering.

FIG. 5 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ flowering detail.

FIG. 6 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ inflorescence on current season shoot.

FIG. 7 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ inflorescence on a water shoot.

FIG. 8 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ fruit cluster.

FIG. 9 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ fruit detail.

FIG. 10 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ fruit cross section.

FIG. 11 illustrates ‘Ridley 3402’ seed color.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Vaccinium hybrid ornamental plant known as ‘Ridley 3402’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made in October 2014 of mature ‘Ridley 3402’ plants (age 4 years) grown in outdoor field plantings with day temperature ranging from 21° C. to 23° C., night temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 12° C., and light levels ranging from 6 to 8 klux. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘Ridley 3402’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light quality, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like.

Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 edition.

-   Botanical classification: Vaccinium hybrid cultivar ‘Ridley 3402’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parents.—seed parent ‘S03-40-02’ (unpatented). Pollen parent             ‘S03-09-01A’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—upright to semi-upright. Growth vigor is             strong. Plant height is approximately 2.0 m. Plant width is             approximately 1.2 m. Flower bud density is medium.             Twigginess is low. Time of beginning of flowering is early             to medium (begins mid May; peaks mid August) when grown as             an evergreen in Australia. Time of fruit ripening is early             to medium (begins early to mid July; peaks early to mid             October) when grown as an evergreen in Australia. -   Stem:     -   -   Suckering tendency.—Plants typically have 5-7 major canes             per plant from a base 30 cm in diameter on 6 year old             plants.         -   Canes.—erect to semi-erect with moderate branching; color             greyed orange 198C; 2 year old cane diameter 12 mm, colored             greyed orange 177B, some flaking of bark, new growth             (immature shoot) color yellow green 144A with occasional             anthocyanin coloration grayed orange 177B, water shoots stem             color yellow green 144A with occasional anthocyanin             coloration grayed red 178A to grayed purple 183A, current             season wood diameter 3-4 mm, colored yellow green 144C             Internode length on strong, new shoots 15-20 mm.         -   Fruiting wood.—numerous twigs to 12 cm in length.         -   Surface texture of new wood.—smooth. -   Fully developed leaf:     -   -   Length.—medium to long 75-90 mm.         -   Width.—medium to broad 35-40 mm.         -   Shape.—elliptic Color of upper surface: yellow green 147A             Color of lower surface: yellow green 147C.         -   Intensity of color.—medium.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Undulation of margin.—weak.         -   Pubescence of upper side.—absent.         -   Pubescence of lower side.—absent.         -   Cross sectional profile.—flat.         -   Longitudinal profile.—straight.         -   Attitude.—broad acute to horizontal Shape of apex is             acuminate Shape of base is obtuse. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Length of peduncle.—to 12 mm.         -   Length of pedicel.—long 5-7 mm.         -   Number of flowers per cluster.—median 6 (9 on a water shoot)             Flower cluster density is medium-dense.         -   Diameter.—20-35 mm.         -   Length.—30-50 mm.         -   Color of peduncle.—yellow green 146C Texture of peduncle is             smooth.         -   Color of pedicel.—yellow green 147C Texture of pedicel is             smooth. -   Flowers: Length of bud medium (to 14 mm), bud shape tubular, oblong     with acute apex Bud color grayed red 181D (immature, tightly closed)     to green 138C (calyx) with white NN155D corolla as it progresses to     opening. Length of corolla tube medium (to 14 mm) Width of corolla     tube medium (to 10 mm)     -   -   Corolla aperture diameter.—3-4 mm.         -   Color of corolla.—white NN155D.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—absent.         -   Corolla ridges.—present Protrusion of stigma absent, usually             level with corolla apex.         -   Fragrance.—weak.         -   Shape.—urceolate.         -   Abundance of pollen.—high.         -   Calyx (with sepals) diameter.—6-7 mm Calyx color green 138C.         -   Productivity.—greater than 5 kg per season from 3-4 year old             plants planted at 3.0 m×0.9 m density.         -   Cold hardiness.—‘Ridley 3402’ has not been grown in all             environments including harsh winter environments. Cold             tolerance is expected to be low.         -   Chilling requirement.—‘Ridley 3402’ has not been grown in             all environments and is typically grown as an evergreen crop             where chilling hours are not important. ‘Ridley 3402’ is             classed as ‘low chill’, typical of Southern Highbush             Blueberry varieties with an estimated chilling requirement             of 200-250 hours (not tested).         -   Leafing.—plants retain leaves year round (at Lindendale, NSW             Australia) and ‘Ridley 3402’ is grown commercially as an             evergreen crop. New leafing occurs in early to mid August at             Lindendale, NSW Australia. -   Fruit:     -   -   Unripe fruit color intensity.—light.         -   Unripe fruit color.—green 138A Cluster density is dense.             Diameter is medium (mean 20.3 mm)         -   Weight.—medium (approximately 2.2 g).         -   Shape.—oblate.         -   Attitude of calyx.—erect.         -   Diameter of calyx basin.—medium (mean 6 mm) Depth of calyx             basin is medium to deep (to 2.0 mm).         -   Intensity of bloom.—strong Intensity of blue color of skin             with bloom removed is very dark.         -   Color of skin.—black 202A.         -   Sweetness when ripe.—medium to high.         -   Color of flesh when ripe.—grayed green 194A to 195A.         -   Firmness when ripe.—firm.         -   Acidity when ripe.—medium Size of scar is small (1.0-1.5             mm).         -   Storage quality.—good.         -   Date of 50% maturity.—approximately 10^(th) September at             Lindendale, NSW Australia.         -   Fruit development period.—approximately 55 days in protected             cultivation at Lindendale, NSW Australia. -   Seed:     -   -   Seed color.—greyed orange 174B.         -   Seed abundance in fruit.—medium.         -   Seed size.—1.6-1.8 mm long for fully developed seeds. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid plant named ‘Ridley 3402’, substantially as herein shown and described. 